This World Book Day, Crew Brunel brought Alice in Wonderland to life by dressing up as iconic characters from the classic tale. From Alice herself to the Cheshire Cat, the team fully embraced the playful magic of Wonderland while promoting the joy of reading. Their creative costumes were a fun way to inspire imagination and encourage everyone to explore the world of books.
Well done, Crew Brunel!
Miss Mitchell
My name is Kathryn Burns and I am the Careers Lead for XP Trust. I have the pleasure of launching our C28 to students, crew leaders and parents on Wednesday 12th March 4pm – 5pm. Parents and students to meet on XP East stairs where I will share information about expectations, responsibilities and support.
As you may already be aware, in year 10 our students carry out a short experience into the world of work to support their preparation for GCSEs and moving forward as they progress through Year 11 and beyond.
This year we are planning a week off timetable 7th – 11th July with a wrap around the work experience to give them a taste of applications, interviews and workshops alongside the external experience, followed up by a reflective piece of work and CV building.
As a trust we feel that it is important for our students to experience this alongside qualifications and other activities beyond the classroom, such as the Duke of Edinburgh bronze award. Our aim has always been to support parents in developing young people who are able to communicate, have resilience and the transferable skills that the business community are looking for in today’s society.
I look forward to seeing you there as our young people step up and show local employers how amazing XP Doncaster students are.
Mrs Burns
kburns@xpschool.org
This week C27 were able to tour the historic plantworks site in Hexthorpe, Donaster. Here they took a tour of the Wabtec facility from the HVAC testing shop to the erecting house which was home to the legendary Flying Scotsman. The students were able to take in the history of the location as they were escorted around the 22 acre site seeing where it reached to at the height of production, spanning a staggering 90 acres. The site has been an integral part of our community for more than 170 years employing thousands of local people who worked numerous jobs from labourers to master craftspeople. The plant was also an integral part of the war effort with Doncaster women becoming ‘Munitionettes’, working long hours in dangerous conditions.
With the future of the site being discussed this may well be the last cohort from XP Trust to visit such an important part of Doncasters heritage. With this area of Hexthorpe being home to such historic achievements and listed buildings it really was a privilege to be welcomed into this local slice of industry.
On July 9th, XP/E students will have the chance to visit Parliament. This is an excellent opportunity for pupils to find out more about Parliament and includes a tour of the Palace of Westminster and an engaging curriculum-informed workshop in the Education Centre.
Students in Year 7 to Year 10 are encouraged to apply by Friday 14th of March. All details on how to apply are outlined in the letter and presentation! We look forward to reading your applications.
Our ETA is now 4am due to an accident on M1. Looking forward to getting back to school and seeing you there to pick up the students!
This week, despite the rainy weather, Crew Brunel showed incredible dedication by coming together for a litter picking session to help maintain the cleanliness of our community space. As stewards of the XP community, it’s important for us to take pride in our environment, and this teamwork was a perfect example of our shared responsibility. We also teamed up to clean and organise our crew space, and with everyone’s small effort, we made a big difference. The transformation showed how much can be accomplished when we work together.
Together, we’re not just cleaning up – we’re building a stronger, more supportive community.
A special shout-out goes to Matilda, who earned the highest praise points this half term with an amazing 36 points! Matilda has shown outstanding HoWLs this half term, and it’s reflected in her receiving the most praise points in our crew. Her dedication and positive attitude continue to inspire us all. Keep it up, Matilda!
I hope everyone has a fantastic February half term, full of relaxation, fun activities, and quality time with family and friends. Whether you’re taking it easy or going on an adventure, enjoy the well-deserved break! Take this time to recharge, and I look forward to seeing everyone back refreshed and ready for the next half term.
Miss Mitchell
This week, Crew Brunel have worked closely with their class buddies to reflect on their Habits of Work and Learning (HoWLS) throughout the half term. This collaborative process encouraged open dialogue, where they shared insights on their personal growth and set SMART targets for further improvement. By working together, they not only built a stronger sense of community but also held each other accountable for their progress. The reflection session provided students with a clear understanding of their strengths and areas for development, creating a nurturing, growth-focused atmosphere where everyone could thrive.
Also this week, Matilda and Chloe have earned the spotlight as star students of Year 8, receiving the most praise points for their outstanding contributions and hard work. Their dedication to excellence in both academics and behavior has set a great example for their peers. Matilda and Chloe’s consistent effort and positive attitude have truly made a lasting impact, earning them well-deserved recognition. Keep up the great work, Matilda and Chloe!
Miss Mitchell
This term we have been looking at mental health in our Wise Wednesday sessions in crew. All students have approached this maturely and we have had so really thoughtful and in-depth discussions.
This week crew made posters to round off our topic to display in our crew room.
Fab work from all!
Mrs Barnes
Take a look into X31 Skipper’s classroom, where they have been working hard crafting and practicing their fluency skills in English!
Students have embraced the challenge of building their fluency and comprehension skills through one of our anchor text stories, ‘A Storm in a Teashop‘, focusing on the events during the First World War. It was a brilliant display of reading, with each student nailing key pauses, skilful dramatisation, and the use of clauses and tone pitch. Their interpretations not only shed light on stories of the First World War, but also showed courage and compassion for one another.
Take a look at the attached video to see the magic of X31 Skipper in action!
C31 students have kicked off the term with an incredible first week of immersion! They have been working hard, getting smart, and being kind as they tried to figure out what their new expedition will be about. Many came close with their guesses, but the big reveal happened on Friday — and it was worth the wait!
Throughout the week, students engaged with new protocols, supported each other, and worked collaboratively. They also had the chance to interact with an expert in war artefacts, Michael and explore these artefacts, setting the stage for their upcoming expedition. It’s been awesome to see their teamwork, curiosity, and kindness as they navigated this exciting start to the year.
Check out the video below to see all the amazing work Year 7 has been doing. What a fantastic week!
